Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)In theory, this is a great phone. Unfortunately, it is woefully underpowered - enough so to make it unsuitable for most and best to wait for the next version.
I have used several units extensively and have spent hours online, with customer service, and with tech support. Read on for the some critical details.
Before I move on, let's clear up some confusions. Palm makes phones and PDAs. PalmSource makes software. They used to be one company but split up a few years ago.
The Treo 600 and 650 are made by Palm and use PalmSource software. The 700w is made by Palm and uses Microsoft software.
Also, there are two versions of Windows Mobile 5.0. There is a Smartphone version and there is a Pocket PC version. The Treo 700w uses the latter, which is more versatile but usually impossible to use with one hand. However, Palm made some modifications, with Microsoft's permission, to make the 700w very usable without a stylus. That's something to consider when looking at competing phones that also use Windows Mobile Pocket PC version.
Finally, EV-DO is technically broadband, but not quite what you have at home, thus why it is marketed as "near-broadband." Home broadband speeds are at least 768Kbps peak, and 3,000Kbps speeds are commonly available. Verizon's EVDO is 512Kbps peak. 1x, the old cellular connection that the Treo 650 uses, is only 100kbps peak.
Here are the major shortcomings.
312MHz is quite slow. Most leading-edge PDAs use a 624MHz processor now. Considering that the Treo does the job of both a phone and a PDA, nothing less than 624MHz is called for.
Palm really fell asleep at the wheel with the RAM. Only about 25MB ends up being available to run all programs. Windows takes up most of that and leaves less than 10MB available for the rest of your programs. Most new PDAs provide 64MB.
What does that mean? It means your unit will crash a plenty. PalmSource software may run fine with those specs, but Windows is much more of a power hog.
I put my unit through heavy use and it crashes at least once per day. Use too many programs at once - it will eventually crash. Surf the internet a lot - it will eventually crash.
Here's the worst one: If you're using an intensive program or have simply opened too many programs (doesn't matter if they're in the background) and you happen to receive a call - it will crash.
Given all this, I ask the same thing another reviewer asked: why isn't the reset button easily accessible?
I also frequently experience lags as long as 30 seconds. I have also experienced 5-second lags in the phone picking up an incoming call.
Unfortunately, the only way around this is for Palm to add more RAM to the Treo 700w. The only way to minimize the problem is to frequently hit [function key] + [OK key] to bring up the program manager and close all programs. Especially do this after you use intensive programs, such as Internet Explorer, finance software, GPS software, and music software.
Here's another problem that can probably be fixed with a ROM update: The unit sometimes shuts off certain sound sources whenever the screen auto-shuts off. This means you can't use it as a portable MP3 player. To get around this, open Media Player and assign a key to turn off the screen. Then turn off the screen before the auto-shut off and it will keep playing.
Here's a mind-boggling oversight: When you're on two calls at the same time (e.g. call waiting), you cannot end just one call. You have to end both. Moreover, even if one of the callers hangs up, the phone will still show the call as being active. I have yet to figure out if those minutes are being charged to me.
If you have the patience, this can still be a useful product, especially if you need the faster EVDO connection. Despite its fatal flaws, I would still say it's one of the best implementations of a phone/pda.
If you have a Treo 650, the 700w will be more of a downgrade if you donn't need EVDO. If you need Blackberry, the 700w is a laughable alternative.
My suggestion is to wait out for the next version.
*Update: Palm released a patch in April that drastically improves stability. It doesn't crash nearly as much as before. What changed? Memory management was improved to shut down programs instead of leaving them in the background, usually leaving only 1 program running at time. However, the opposite problem now exists where the Treo closes a program that you want to come back to (e.g. after retrieving info from another program or after receiving a call), which itself can be frustrating. But I'll take that over 3 daily crashes.
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To keep your smartphone's applications up to date, and to optimize the performance of your device, you may need to perform firmware and/or software updates just as you would on your PC. To learn more about updates for your device, please visit Palm's support site. Note that by clicking this link you will be leaving Amazon.com.A lot of folks said it would never happen, but here it is: a Palm device running Windows Mobile software. This isn't just any device, either. It's the latest version of Palm's wildly popular Treo series of Smartphones. Everything that's great about the Treo hardware is here, plus all the power of Windows Mobile 5.0. And to top it off, the Treo 700w is fully compatible with Verizon wireless' EV-DO mobile broadband data service. Simply put, everything you need to do your work on the move, and at blazing speeds, has arrived.
Design Under the hood, the Treo 700w features 128MB of RAM (60MB available for end user storage) and an Intel XScale 312MHz processor. The design retains the same basic form factor as the Treo 650 with a few changes. Aesthetically, the new Treo has more angular lines and a more professional-looking gray color. At 6 ounces, it's also slightly lighter than its predecessor. The button layout above the full QWERTY keyboard has been changed to accommodate the Windows Mobile 5.0 interface, and the screen sports 240 x 240 resolution.
Like the 650, the top of the 700w features an expansion card slot for SD, SDIO, and MMC memory and expansion cards, and get this: Unlike the 650, the 700w supports the Palm Wi-Fi card. Up top there's also an infrared port for line of sight data transfers, as well as a handy switch for turning off the phone's ringer. Below the screen, a five-way navigator controls most of the phone's menus and operating system functions. The left side of the unit features a volume up/down toggle plus a handy user-customizable button that can be assigned to any phone or PDA function. The rear of the unit houses a loudspeaker, as well as the 1.3 megapixel camera unit. A touchscreen stylus can be tucked away on the right side of the phone. Meanwhile, a combined charging, data, and accessory attachment port, called the Palm "multi-connector" is housed on the bottom of the unit, as is a standard 2.5 mm stereo headset jack.
Calling and PDA Features Like the Treo 650, the Treo 700w's phone and PDA functions are designed to provide an integrated, seamless experience -- only this time its all handled by Windows Mobile. The hallmark of the Windows Mobile experience is the "Today" screen that summarizes all the important information you need to make it through the day. Here you'll get message notification, upcoming appointments, dialing functions, and a Google Web searching all in one spot. As a phone, the Treo 700w features all the functionality folks expect from a cell phone, including a handsfree speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones (polyphonic MIDI, MP3, WAV and video ringtones are supported), a vibrate mode, and picture caller ID. Microsoft Office Outlook Mobile combines email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes into a single application that seamlessly integrates with the 700w's phone functions. Meanwhile, headsets, car kits and other wireless peripherals can also be paired with the unit via Bluetooth (the Bluetooth 1.2 specification is supported).
Staying productive on the road is made possible by the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, which includes Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile. You also get Picsel PDF Viewer for viewing PDF document attachments, and the File Explorer application makes it easy to browse the files on your 700w.
Messaging and Internet The really big news about the 700w is that it supports Verizon's BroadbandAccess high speed wireless data service, allowing you to get DSL speeds wherever you have broadband data coverage. And what can you do with all that speed? Surf the Web faster than ever before using the bundled Internet Explorer application, or log into Pocket MSN and check your Hotmail, use MSN Messenger, or browse the MSN Mobile portal. Robust SMS and MMS functionality is built into the Windows Mobile interface, too.
One of the most important tools bundled with the 700w is Microsoft ActiveSync, which allows you to quickly synchronize your device's tasks, calendars, email, and contacts with your desktop. You also get Exchange ActiveSync, an application that lets you synchronize data with an Exchange server. Syncing can be done via USB, or wirelessly via Bluetooth.
Imaging and Entertainment Another great feature of the 700w is that it supports Windows Media playback right out of the box. With Windows Media Player 10, Palm users can finally play streaming and downloaded video and audio content in a variety of formats, even purchased music from "Plays For Sure" supporting stores. You can also keep your tunes loaded on a memory card and listen to stereo sound wherever you roam (requires an optional stereo headset adapter).
The Treo 700w's built-in camera sees a bump in performance with the ability to take 1.3 megapixel (1280x1024) stills. The camera also features a 2x digital zoom, a self portrait mirror, and automatic light balancing. While the camera is great for taking stills, it can also function as a camcorder, allowing you to capture MPEG4 video to the unit's memory. An integrated media application organizes your captured photos and videos.
And last, but certainly not least, the Treo 700w keeps the fun going when you've got some downtime with great games. Bubble Breaker and Solitaire ship with the handset, but more Windows Mobile games are available.
Suggested Service Options To get the most from the Treo 700w, you'll need to choose two additional service features on top of a voice plan. First, consider a Verizon BroadbandAccess plan, which also includes lower-speed data access in areas where broadband service is not available. If you are a frequent SMS or MMS messaging user, it's a good idea to get an Unlimited IN messaging plan to avoid pay-per-message charges. To learn more about phone options, consult our cell phone options guide.
EV-DO Wireless Broadband Coverage Learn more about where BroadbandAccess (EV-DO) coverage is offered. View EV-DO demonstration.
Vital Statistics The Palm Treo 700w weighs 6.0 ounces and measures 4.4 x 2.30 x .90 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.7 hours of digital talk time, and up to 15 days of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies, as well as the EV-DO and 1xRTT data frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.
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